Multiple contact switch with sinusoidal wave form operator



' 3,261,932 MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH WITH SINUSOIDAL WAVE FORM OPERATOR Filed March 5, 1965 y 1966 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Bernard Edward S/7/8S/flg8l', Jn

ATTORNEYS 5 [JaZEwW s s s s s s y 19, 1966 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR 3,261,932

MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH WITH SINUSOIDAL WAVE FORM OPERATOR Filed March 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l O O INV EN TOR Bernard Edward Sh/es/nger, Jr

ATTORNEYS ly 1966 B. E. SHLESINGER, JR 3,261,932

MULTIPLE CONTACT swma WITH SINUSOIDAL WAVE FORM OPERATOR Filed March 5, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet 's INVENTOR ATTORNEY;

United States Patent "ice 3,261,932 MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH WITH SINUSOIDAL WAVE FORM OPERATOR Bernard Edward Shlesinger, Jr., 906 Bruce Lane, Annandale, Va. Filed Mar. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 437,409 45 Claims. (Cl. 200-18) This invention pertains to multiple contact switches for programming and the like.

In the prior art, programming switches were not flexible enough to adapt to different types of operators, or if they were, they were unable to be adjusted for a new sequence during the operating cycle.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a multiple contact switch that is simple in construction, and inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will pro vide adjustment for the operator to vary the programming sequence.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a multiple contact switch that may be used in programming systems, telemetering, telephony, and the like.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a multiple contact switch that will provide a large number of dilferent connections and combinations of circuits.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a multiple contact switch which will have a minimum number of parts and a maximum of efficiency of operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a contact switch which is operable by any type of motor mecha- IllSiTl.

Still, a further object of this invention is to provide a multiple switch which is capable of being readily assembled and disassembled for incorporating new programming systems.

General summary In general the invention contemplates the use of a flexible U-shaped contact operator or pressure operator which is positioned between two plates, one of which is generally stationary and the other which is movable. Upon application of pressure to the movable plate toward the stationary plate, the U-shaped member will be deformed so that it bows outwardly. The outward bow of the U as the plates are drawn together, will shift the legs of the U laterally thereby increasing the distance between the legs to vary the contact distances as will be hereinafter described in detail.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example various embodiments of this invention:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation showing one embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate various types of flexible operators which may be used in place of the operator illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG- URE 2 illustrating a diiferent modification of the compression elements;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing a further modification of the operator including printed circuits thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view of the switch block only, illustrating yet another modification of this invention.

FIGURE 10 has a cross sectional view illustrating yet Patented July 19, 1966 a further modification of this invention utilizing a push button system;

FIGURE 10A is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the lines 10A--10A and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 11-11 of FIGURE 10 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation view illustrating still another modification of this invention;

FIGURE 13 is a schematic view showing the operators in a pair as utilized in FIGURE 12 and running from take-01f reels to pick-up reels;

FIGURES 14 and 15 are cross sectional views of yet another modification of this invention in which the plates are configured;

FIGURE 16 shows the invention with the block in cross section and the means for feeding and receiving the contact member in diagrammatic form as it goes into and out of the block;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of yet a further modification of this invention in which the bottom plate is configured;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a,

portion of the operator showing a contact member inserted into the operator; 1

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a perforated operator in the block and showing abutting contacts extending into a perforation in the operator.

FIGURES 1 through 8 FIGURE 1 shows a block B comprising an upper plate 2 and a lower plate 4. Posts 6 at the corners of the block B are illustrated as being set in the bottom plate 4 in recesses 8. The posts 6 pass through bores 10 in the upper plate 2. Springs 12 mounted on the posts 6 bias plate 2 away from plate 4. Adjustment means such as wing nuts 14 are provided to adjust the plate 2 with respect to the plate 4. It will be obvious that various other means can be utilized for adjusting the plates 2 and 4 with respect to each other. For the purpose of exact positioning, a scale could be provided with a Vernier for very accurate adjustment of the plates.

Mounted in the plates 2 and 4 are a series of contacts or pressure switches designated S. The members S may be contacts which project into a space 16 between the plates 2 and 4. If the members S are pressure sensitive, they need not project into the space 16 but may be set back from the walls of the plates 2 and 4. They may be strain gauges imbedded in the plates and sensitive to pressure on the inner surfaces of the plates.

A circuit operator A passes between the plates 2 and 4 as generally illustrated in FIGURE 1. In FIGURE 1, the operator illustrated is sinusoidal in configuration and comes from a source where the corrugations in the operator itself are not a problem as to winding and reeling. The type of opeartor A illustrated is of the sine wave variety. As generally illustrated, it should be of relatively stilt material though flexible. It may be of mylar, nylon, or some other similar material. The operator A may also be of metal. In FIGURE 1 and FIG- URE 2, the operator utilized is corrugated to a set configuration. It is obvious that the material forming the operator A may be stamped or molded or otherwise permanently configured. The configuration must be flexible enough for the member to be wound and unwound as well as to permit flattening under pressure for reasons hereinafter set out.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the plates 2 and 4 are provided with channels 18 and 20 which are slightly wider than the operator A which travels therein. The purpose for the channels are to prevent lateral displacement of the operator A. It will be obvious that the operator may be of a cable configuration or a sheet of considerable width depending upon the purposes to which the device is to be utilized.

FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 illustrate various types of operators A.

In FIGURE 3, the operator A is provided with corrugations having flat bases thereto as at 22 and 24. The fiat bases 22 and 24 are connected to each other by sloping side walls 26. The length of the bases 22 and 24 may be varied in order that the contact time be increased or decreased as desired during a programming system.

FIGURE 4 shows the operator A with rounded peak members 28. It will be noted that between the two members 28, there is a low flat cable-like surface 38. The rounded peaks 28 differ from the flat bases 22 and 24 giving a ditferent period of contact. The member 30 as illustrated in FIGURE 4 does not take effect until the operator A has been compressed within the block B to a point where the surface of the cable-like member 30 comes into contact with the plates 2 and 4 as the case may be. The length of the flat surfaces 30 may be varied as desired for various programming operations.

FIGURE 5 is somewhat different from FIGURE 3 in that the bottom bases 32 are connected by rounded peak members 34 to permit a deviation in the programming operation.

FIGURE 6 shows the operator A with various features of the previous FIGURES 3-5 including bases 24, cablelike members 30, peaks 28 and 34, and bases 32 interconnected by side walls 26.

FIGURE 8 illustrates how any one of the operators A as shown in the various FIGURES, may incorporate printed circuits 36 and 38. The connecting printed circuits 38 connect with the printed circuits 36. It will be obvious that variations may be utilized as desired for producing certain programming systems. The operator A illustrated in FIGURE 8 is provided with sprocket holes 40 on either side of the strip for use in feeding I operator A, into, through, and out of the block B.

FIGURE 7 diflers from FIGURE 2 in that the spring members 12 have been substituted by flexible, resilient, rubber members 42. Any other means for connecting the plates 2 and 4 of the block B in adjustment relationship may be used.

FIGURES 9, 12 and 13 In FIGURE 9, the block B is shown with a top plate and a bottom plate 52. The top plate 50 is shown with two channels 54 and 56 in side by side relationship. The bottom plate 52 is similarly provided with channels 58 and 60 which cooperate with the channels 54 and 56 in the manner of cooperation of the channels 18 and 20 in FIGURE 2. Printed circuits 62 and 64 extend from channels 54 to 56 and 58 to 68 respectively. It is obvious that any type of circuit connector or pressure sensitive member or the like may be used instead of a printed circuit. It is also obvious that the connection made may be across the top surface of the plates 50 and 52 shown, or directly across the spaces or openings 66 and 68 from circuit 62 to circuit 64. The plates 50 and 52 are provided with side flanges 7 0 and 72. The flanges 70 and 72 overlap one another. Flange 70 is provided with a slot 74 and flange 72 is provided with a lug 76 which penetrates with a slot 74. A lug nut 78 is secured onto the lug 76 for positioning the plate 50 with respect to the plate 52 in any desired vertical relationship.

For support purposes, a central post 88 is secured to the top plate 50 and engages in an opening 82 in the bottom plate 52. A spring member 84 is provided for urging the plates apart so as to provide for accurate adjustment of the plates 50 and 52 with respect to each other. It will be obvious that a Vernier mechanism can be used if so desired for measurement of the distance between the two plates. It will be obvious that more than two channels 66 and 68 can be provided if so desired. A whole series of such channels would enable programming of a multiplex system.

In FIGURE 12, plates 80, 82 and 84 are set on posts 86. The stacked relationship of the plates 80, 82 and 84 permit considerable variation in selectivity of systems. Set screws 88 maintain the plate 82 in position on the supports 86. Lug bolts 90 maintain the plates 80 and 84 in position with respect to plate 82. Springs 92 maintain a pressure against the outside plates for purposes of adjustment as heretofore explained.

FIGURE 13 provides take-011 reels 94 and 96 and takeup reels 98 and 100 for the operators A and A. The operators are shown as corrugated and are utilized in the block system B as illustrated in FIGURE 12. It is obvious that many more plates may be stacked on supports 86 so long as there is some manner of connecting the leads to the various contact or pressure sensitive members in the plates 80, 82 and 84 for example.

FIGURES 10, 10A and 11 FIGURE 10 shows the block B having a top 110, side walls 112 and bottom 114. The top has an opening therein for receipt for a push-button 116. The pushbutton 116 has a base portion 118 and an adjustable washer member 120. The plate 118 contacts a pressure plate 122. The pressure plate 122 has projections 124 which travels in slots 126 as best shown in FIG- URE 10A. The washer abuts the top plate 110 and the push-button plate 118 and permits for adjustment with respect to the pressure plate 122 so that the U-shaped contact member 128 will be properly positioned with respect to the contacts 130, 132, 134 and 136 set in the plate 114. A centering groove 138 which also serves to prevent lateral displacement of the operator 128 is pro vided in the plate 122. A screw (not shown) may be used to maintain the U-shaped operator 128 in position with respect to the push-button 116.

The contact members are provided with set screws 140 for binding leads thereto.

Operation of the device illustrated in FIGURES 10-11 It will now be obvious from a study of the drawings of FIGURES 10 through 11, that depression of the pushbutton 116 will cause the U-shaped operator 128 to flatten out and move from contacts 132 and 134 to contacts 130 and 136 respectively. It is obvious that a variation of this arrangement can be worked out as for example, elimination of contacts 132 and 134. In this instance, no contact is made until depression of button 116. In the former instance, contact is changed but in both instances the operation is the same.

It will be apparent that a toggle may be used rather than push-button as illustrated. Other similar types of switches may be made using the principle as disclosed.

FIGURES 14 and 15 In FIGURES 14 and 15, the block B is provided with plates and 152. The plates 150 and 152 are configured by corrugations 154 and 156. Each individual corrugation is U-shaped. The contact members 158 are at all times in contact with the operator A". The contact members 168 are located in the recessed areas of the U-shaped corrugations.

Operations of FIGURES 14 and 15 In the operation of the modification illustrated in FIGURES 14 and 15, when the plates 158 and 152 are brought together a illustrated in FIGURE 15, the operator A" will take a sinusoidal configuration and thus make contact with the contacts 160 in the recesses of the U-shaped corrugations. In this modification the operator A" which may be a cable, a sheet or a strip member, is not prominently set in a corrugated form as heretofore described. In this modification the operator A is a nonconformed or nonconfigured member capable of being flexed into the sinusoidal shape illustrated. The member may be of plastic or metal or the like and engage contact members 158 and 160 as illustrated and may have printed circuits thereon as desired. The block B may contain pressure sensitive switches rather than contact members as desired.

FIGURE 16 In the structure shown in FIGURE 16, the block B is provided with a plate 170 and a plate 172. The flexible operator A is shown as coming from a take-off reel 174 through drive sprocket 176 and idler sprocket 178 through a guide roller bracket 180 and into the block opening 182. At the other end of the block B another guide roller bracket 184 is secured to the bottom plate 172. A drag sprocket 186 and an idler sprocket 188 is provided to guide and maintain the operator A in position for feeding to the take-up reel 190. The type of operator set out may be used in any of the aforementioned systems for feeding the operator A into the block B.

Operation of FIGURE 16 Since the operator cable, or sheet A is relatively stiff but flexible, upon imposition of the drag 186, the operator A will form in the space 182 a series of corrugations as illustrated due to the forward pressure imposed by the drive sprocket 176. So long as the drag 186 applies a back pressure against the drive 176, the convolutions or corrugations will maintain their position in the block B. When the plates 170 and 172 are brought together, the series of corrugations will flatten out to change the position and sequencing of the circuitry mounted in the block B.

FIGURE 17 and its operation In FIGURE 17, the block B comprises an upper plate 200 having a flat smooth surface and a lower plate 202 having a corrugated surface. The operator A is of substantial thickness and when the two plates are brought together in a manner as herebefore described, the operator A? deforms and the contacts 204 in the U-shaped grooves will be operated by the operator A since the material of the A will flow downwardly into the valleys of the U-shaped recesses 206.

FIGURES 18 and 19 In FIGURE 18, the operator A is provided with a rivet 208 for providing contact through the operator A to both surfaces.

In FIGURE 19, the operator A is provided with perforations such as 210 so that the contacts S may directly contact each other through the operator A.

Summary operation The operation of the devices as described are in general, similar in that the plates are brought together or pointed whenever it is desired that the programming system be changed. The formation of the U-shaped configuration in one or all of the members permits flexing of the legs of the U so as to change contact or pressure on switches in the block B. At all times, a certain compression must be maintained on the loops or U-shapes of the operator in order to provide good operation. A loose cable operator will result in malfunctioning. Thus, a drag as illustrated in FIGURE 16 or the like is required. Where the operator is permanently set into a desired shape, no drag may be required, so long as the feed force does not exceed the wind up force.

While the invention has been described in connection with different embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications, and this application is intended to cover any variation, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the

principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within knowing or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and fall within the scope of the invention or appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A multiple contact switch comprising (a) a switch block,

(b) said switch block including a pair of opposed pressure plates defining an opening therebetween, (c) at least one of said pressure plates being axially movable on its central axis with respect to the other plate of said pair,

(d) spaced electrical circuit connectors mounted in said switch block,

(e) means connected to said block for moving at least said one plate axially relative to said other plate, (f) a relatively stiff flexible operator in the opening in said block and mounted at all times under compression between and contacting both plates of said pair for selectively exerting biasing pressure against certain of said circuit connectors,

(g) said operator including a U shaped bend,

a (h) the base of said U shaped bend abutting one of said plates and the base of the legs of said U shaped bend abutting the other of said plates,

(i) whereby when said plates are brought axially together, the bases of the legs of said U shaped bend move away from each other thereby selectively shifting the biasing pressure in said opening with respect to certain circuit connectors to make or break a circuit.

2. A multiple contact switch comprising (a) a switch block,

(b) said switch block including a pair of opposed pressure plates defining an opening therebetween,

(c) at least one of said pressure plates being axially movable on its central axis with respect to the other plate of said pair,

(d) spaced electrical circuit connectors movably mounted in said switch block,

(e) means connected to said block for moving at least said one plate axially relative to said other plate, (f) a, relatively stiff flexible operator longitudinally movable in the opening in said block and at all times under compression between and contacting both plates of said pair for selectively exerting biasing pressure against certain of said circuit connections,

(g) said flexible operator including at least one U shaped bend located between said plates,

(h) the base of said U shaped bend abutting one of said plates and the base of the legs of said U shaped bend abutting the other of said plates, and;

(i) means for moving said flexible operator longitudinally in said block,

(j) whereby when said plates are brought axially together, the base of legs of said U shaped bend move away from each other, and whereby when said operator is moved longitudinally in said block, the biasing pressure with respect to certain circuit connectors is selectively shifted longitudinally in said opening.

3. A multiple contact switch comprising (a) a switch block,

(b) said switch block including a pair of opposed pressure plate members defining an opening therebetween,

(c) at least one of said pressure plate members being axially movable on its central axis with respect to the other plate member of said pair,

((1) spaced electrical circuit connectors mounted in said switch block,

(e) a relatively stiff flexible operator member having at least two portions longitudinally movable in the opening in said block and at all times under compression between and contacting both plate members of said pair for selectively exerting biasing pressure against certain of said circuit connectors,

(f) at least one of said members including at least one U shaped surface, and;

(g) means for moving at least said two portions of said flexible operator longitudinally in said block,

(h) means connected to said block for moving at least said one plate axially relative to said other plate,

(i) whereby when said plates are brought together, said flexible operator member is distorted laterally and longitudinally so that the biasing pressure with respect to certain circuit connectors is selectively shifted longitudinally in said opening.

4. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and including (a) means for preventing lateral displacement of said flexible operator.

5. A multiple contact switch comprising (a) a switch block,

(b) said block including a pair of opposed pressure plates defining a slot therebetween,

(c) at least one of said pres-sure plates being axially movable on its central axis with respect to the other plate of said pair,

(d) a series of spaced electrical circuit connectors mounted in each of said plates,

(e) a relatively stiff flexible operator slidable longitudinally in the space of said block,

(f) said operator being at all times under compression between said opposed plates and contacting said opposed plates for selectively exerting biasing pressure against said circuit connectors,

(h) said operator extending into, through and out of said slot,

(i) said operator having spaced contact surfaces in said slot contacting said plates,

(j) the space between said contact surfaces being variable depending on the distance between said plates. (it) means connected to said operator for moving said operator longitudinally in said block,

(1) means connected to said block for moving at least said one pressure plate axially relative to said other plate,

(m) whereby when said plates are brought together, said operator is distorted longitudinally and laterally thereby to shift said contact surfaces relative to each other so as to selectively and sequentially operate said circuit connectors.

6. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5 and wherein (a) said circuit connectors include pressure sensitive switches.

7. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein (a) said circuit connector includes electrical contact means.

'8. A multiple contact switch as in claim 6 and wherein (a) said circuit connectors include printed circuits.

9. A multiple contact switch as in claim 7 and wherein (a) said circuit connectors include printed circuits.

10. A multiple contact switch as in claim 9 and wherein (a) said flexible operator includes a printed circuit.

11. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5 and wherein (a) said operator comprises a linearly extending sinusoid-ally configured belt.

12. A multiple contact switch as in claim 11 and wherein (a) said belt is corrugated plastic.

13. A multiple contact switch as in claim 11 and wherein (a) said belt is corrugated metal.

14. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein (a) said means connected to said block for axially moving said one pressure plate includes at least a pair of posts secured to one plate and connected to said other plate b) resilient means mounted on said posts between said plates, and

(c) means on said posts for moving one plate with respect to said other plate and compressing said resilient means between said plates when said plates are moved together. 15. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein (a) said pressure plate members define a plurality of slots, and having; (b) a plurality of flexible operators members one in each slot, and wherein, (c) said flexible operator means includes means to operate each of said flexible operators members. 16. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5 and wherein (a) said pressure plates define a plurality of slots, (b) a plurality of flexible operators, one in each slot,

and wherein, (c) said flexible operator means includes means to operate each of said flexible operators. 17. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein (a) said switch block includes at least three pressure plate members forming a plurality of slots, (b) a plurality of flexible operator members, one in each slot, and; (c) said flexible operator means includes means to operate each of said flexible operator members. 18. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5 and wherein (a) said switch block includes at least three pressure plates forming a plurality of slots, (b) a plurality of flexible operations, one in each slot, (c) said flexible operators including means to operate each of said flexible operators. 19. A multiple contact switch as in claim 17 and wherein (a) said pressure plates are stacked relative to each other. 20. A multiple contact switch as in claim 18 and wherein (a) said pressure plates are stacked relative to each other. 21. A multiple contact switch as in claim 17 and wherein (a) said pressure plates include at least two pairs of pressure plates in side by side relation. 22. A multiple contact switch as in claim 18 and wherein (a) said pressure plates include at least two pairs of pressure plates in side by side relation. 23. A multiple contact switch as in claim 2 and wherein (a) said means for moving said flexible operator longitudinally in said slot includes a sprocket drive wheel, and; (b) said flexible operator including guide sprocket holes for said sprocket drive wheel. 24. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein (a) said means for moving said flexible operator member in said slot includes a sprocket drive wheel, and (b) said flexible operator includes guide sprocket holes for said sprocket drive wheel. 25. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5 and wherein (a) said means for moving said flexible operator member in said slot includes a sprocket drive wheel, and (b) said flexible operator includes guide sprocket holes for said sprocket drive Wheel. 26. A multiple contact switch as in claim 2 and including (a) a drag at the opposite side of said slot from said means for moving said flexible operator in said slot. 27. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and including (a) a drag at the opposite side of said slot from said means for moving said flexible operator member in said slot.

28. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5 and including (a) a drag at the opposite side of said slot from said means for moving said flexible operator in said slot. 29. A multiple contact switch as in claim 26 and wherein (a) said moving means for moving said flexible operator and said drag include sprocket drive wheels. 30. A multiple contact switch as in claim 27 and wherein (a) said moving means for said flexible operator member and said drag include sprocket drive wheels. 31. A multiple contact switch as in claim 28 and wherein (a) said moving means for said flexible operator and said drag includes sprocket drive wheels. 32. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein (a) opposed surfaces of said plates are corrugated,

and (b) said flexible connector member is of semirigid nonconfigured material. '33. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein (a) said flexible connector is of sheet material. 34. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein (a) said flexible connector is of rod-like configuration. 35. A multiple contact switch as in claim 2 and wherein (a) said flexible connector is perforated. 36. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein (a) said flexible connector member is perforated. 37. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5 and wherein (a) said flexible connector is perforated. 38. A multiple contact switch as in claim 5 and wherein (a) at least one of said plates in said pair is corrugated.

39. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein:

(a) said operator including a series of similar wavelike corrugations formed and preset therein. 40. A multiple contact switch as in claim 3 and wherein:

(a) said operator including a series of dissimilar wavelike corrugations formed and preset therein. 41. A multiple contact switch as in claim 40 and wherein:

(a) said dissimilar wavelike configurations include short and tall waves. 42. A multiple contact switch as in claim 40 and wherein:

(a) said dissimilar wave-like configurations include long and narrow waves. 43. A multiple contact switch as in claim 1 and wherein (a) said means for moving said plate includes a push button. 44. A multiple contact switch as in claim 43 and including (a) means for varying the travel of said push button. 45. A multiple contact switch as in claim 44 and including (a) means for centering and restraining said flexible operator member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,783,484 12/ 1930 Ross 2466 X 2,166,460 7/ 1939 Burns.

3,047,683 7/1962 Shlesinger 20016 X 3,057,027 10/ 1962 Bugge 2466 3,138,672 6/ 1964 Shlesinger ZOO-11 ROBERT K. SCHAEFBR, Primary Examiner.

KATHLEEN H. CLA'FFY, Examiner.

I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MULTIPLE CONTACT SWITCH COMPRISING (A) A SWITCH BLOCK, (B) SAID SWITCH BLOCK INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED PRESSURE PLATES DEFINING AN OPENING THEREBETWEEN, (C) AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PRESSURE PLATES BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE ON ITS CENTRAL AXIS WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER PLATE OF SAID PAIR, (D) SPACED ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONNECTORS MOUNTED IN SAID SWITCH BLOCK, (E) MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BLOCK FOR MOVING AT LEAST SAID ONE PLATE AXIALLY RELATIVE TO SAID OTHER PLATE, (F) A RELATIVELY STIFF FLEXIBLE OPERATOR IN THE OPENING IN SAID BLOCK AND MOUNTED AT ALL TIMES UNDER COMPRESSION BETWEEN AND CONTACTING BOTH PLATES OF SAID PAIR FOR SELECTIVELY EXERTING BIASING PRESSURE AGAINST CERTAIN OF SAID CIRCUIT CONNECTORS, (G) SAID OPERATOR INCLUDING A U SHAPED BEND, (H) THE BASE OF SAID U SHAPED BEND ABUTTING ONE OF SAID PLATES AND THE BASE OF THE LEGS OF SAID U SHAPED BEND ABUTTING THE OTHER OF SAID PLATES, (1) WHEREBY WHEN SAID PLATES ARE BROUGHT AXIALLY TOGETHER, THE BASES OF THE LEGS OF SAID U SHAPED BEND MOVE AWAY FROM EACH OTHER THEREBY SELECTIVELY SHIFTING THE BIASING PRESSURE IN SAID OPENING WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN CIRCUIT CONNECTORS TO MAKE OR BREAK A CIRCUIT. 